If you're asking what time is the Panthers game tonight, the answer depends entirely on which sport you're chasing. Are we talking about the ice or the gridiron? Honestly, most people searching for this right now are looking for the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers.
Today is Thursday, January 15, 2026. If you were hoping to catch Aleksander Barkov or Matthew Tkachuk under the lights this evening, you're actually a day early. The Florida Panthers do not play tonight. Their next matchup is a massive divisional clash against the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow, Friday, January 16, at 7:00 PM ET.
The NFL side of the house is a different story. The Carolina Panthers' season effectively wrapped up on January 10, 2026, after a heartbreaking 34-31 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card round. So, if you're looking for Bryce Young and the crew, they are officially in "offseason mode," evaluating draft boards and nursing those late-season bruises.
The Florida Panthers Schedule: When to Watch
Basically, the NHL schedule makers gave Florida a breather tonight. After a grueling road trip through Canada and New York earlier this month, the Cats are prepping for a back-to-back set.
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- Friday, Jan 16: vs. Carolina Hurricanes (7:00 PM ET)
- Saturday, Jan 17: vs. Washington Capitals (7:00 PM ET)
The game tomorrow against the Hurricanes is being played at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh. You can catch that one on Scripps Sports or FanDuel Sports Network South (formerly Bally Sports). If you’re out of market, ESPN+ is your best friend for streaming.
It’s been a weird month for the Panthers. They’ve been playing "bend but don't break" hockey. Sergei Bobrovsky is still the backbone, but the defense has looked a little leg-heavy lately. Taking tonight off is probably exactly what Paul Maurice ordered before they face a Hurricanes team that is currently breathing down their necks in the standings.
Carolina Panthers (NFL) Postseason Post-Mortem
For the football fans asking what time is the Panthers game tonight, it's a bit of a "good news, bad news" situation. The good news? Carolina actually made the playoffs this year. They defied the odds, finished 8-9, and took the NFC South crown.
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The bad news is that their run ended five days ago at Bank of America Stadium. It was a wild game. A 34-31 shootout where the Rams just had a little more gas in the tank during the fourth quarter.
If you're still craving NFL action tonight, you're out of luck there, too. Thursday Night Football usually disappears once the playoffs hit full swing. The divisional round doesn't start until Saturday. You've got a couple of days to get your snacks ready and your bets placed.
Why Most People Are Confused About the Schedule
Look, it happens. Between the "Carolina" Panthers and the "Florida" Panthers, the names get tossed around a lot. Plus, the NHL is currently in a fever pitch. We just finished the Winter Classic in Miami (which was a surreal sight to see on January 1st), and the league is already hyping up the Stadium Series in Tampa for February.
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Tonight, January 15, features a full slate of other NHL games—like the Canadiens vs. Sabres and the Flyers vs. Penguins—but our guys from Sunrise are staying home.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Sync Your Calendar: If you keep missing puck drop, download the official NHL app and sync the Florida Panthers schedule directly to your phone. It adjusts for your time zone automatically.
- Check Your Subscription: Since regional sports networks are a mess in 2026, verify that your Scripps or ESPN+ login is active before tomorrow’s 7:00 PM start.
- Draft Prep: NFL fans should start looking at the 2026 Mock Drafts. With a playoff appearance under their belt, the Carolina Panthers will be picking later in the first round than we've seen in a long time.
The hunt for a repeat Stanley Cup is still very much alive. Don't let a night off fool you; the intensity for that Hurricanes game tomorrow is going to be playoff-level. Grab some rest tonight, because the weekend is packed.